Microsoft is rolling out an important update for its Edge browser that allows the built-in Copilot AI chatbot to extract information from all tabs opened by the user to answer questions, compare products, generate summaries, and more, after obtaining user authorization. When users start a conversation with Copilot, they can directly ask it to ask questions based on what they are currently browsing, such as having it compare products on different shopping pages, or organize multiple open articles into a summary. Microsoft emphasized in the announcement that users can choose which experiences to turn on and turn off unnecessary features.
This update also comes with the retirement of “Copilot Mode” in Edge. In the past, Copilot mode could also access tab information and had certain "agent" capabilities, such as making restaurant reservations on behalf of users. Microsoft has now integrated this "agent-like" functionality into the "Browse with Copilot" tool to unify the experience.
In the new version, Edge will add a number of AI features around learning and content consumption scenarios. This includes a "Study and Learn" mode, which can convert the current article into a study conversation or interactive quiz to help users understand the content more systematically. In addition, the browser can also generate AI-driven "podcast-style" audio from content in multiple tabs, similar to the AI podcast experience provided by Google NotebookLM, allowing users to digest information by listening. When the user starts typing text on the web page, an AI writing assistant will automatically pop up to help polish or compose the text.
Focusing on personalization and "long-term memory," Microsoft is also further deepening the role of Copilot in Edge. Users can choose to allow Copilot to access their browsing history in order to get more "relevant" and "high-quality" answers. Microsoft said Copilot in Edge will have "long-term memory" capabilities on both desktop and mobile devices, and can adjust answer style and content based on past conversation records. When users open a new tab, they will see a redesigned start page interface that integrates chat, search and navigation functions on the same page. The Journeys function uses AI to automatically classify browsing history by topic, making it easier for users to review previous searches and reading tracks.
On the mobile side, Edge applications have also received important upgrades. With the update, users can share their screen directly with Copilot and voice chat and ask questions about what they see on the screen. Microsoft emphasizes that apps will use clear visual cues to tell users when Copilot is performing an action, providing help, listening, or viewing page content to enhance transparency and control.
This round of updates marks Microsoft’s continued acceleration of the “Copilotization” process in the browser, leaving more web browsing, information retrieval, content creation and learning assistance to AI for collaborative completion.